Fencing Moves

The art of swordsmanship is on full display in Fencing, a famous olympic sport. Read on to know about the various fencing moves and the techniques involved in this sport.

Aparna Jadhav

Last Updated: Dec 10, 2017

The art of fencing originated in Egypt and Greece circa 1200 BC. This art was known to be taught to the royal families. Fencing is known as a combat sport which is fought with variants of the sword. It involves activities like attacking and stabbing in self defense.

This sport is recognized at the Olympic level and needs to be played with proper protective gear to avoid injury. You have to wear a mask, jacket, under plastron, gloves, trainers and long pants to cover your body from the sword. As this is a contact sport, you need to take care that your opponent is also safely covered. The weapons like the foil, epee, and saber are used by fencers. The fencers gain their points on the basis of the strikes that they make. If the tip of the fencer's blade touches any part of the opponent's body, the fencer gets a point. There are three basic moves in fencing viz. the lunge, parry, and riposte.

Lunge

The lunge is the most basic move and is used to attack the opponent. The fencer takes one step forward holding the arm with the weapon extended straight towards the target. In this position the attacker has one leg forward, while the rear leg remains stationary.

Parry

This move is carried out to counter the opponent's lunge. When the opponent lunges forward to attack, the fencer blocks the attacker's blade with his own blade. The defender strikes the tip of the opponent's blade with his sword, not with the tip, but the part of the blade near the handle of the sword. In this way the opponent is pushed back and the defender places himself in the position to strike back.

Riposte

This is a move that is made by the fencer in response to the parry. After the parry has been executed, the fencer who has been targeted gives a quick reply to the opponent with his blade. He either strikes back with a lunge or then parries him. This strike back may involve some retrieving footwork and then a counter strike by the fencer.

Given below is a list of the other moves which are essential in the sport.

Move

Description

On guard

Basic standing position ready to lunge.

Lunge

Attack.

Quarte

The upper left torso is defended and this move is also called the parry 4.

Octave

The lower right torso and right leg is defended and is known as the parry 8.

Sixte

Commonly called the parry 6, it defends the upper right torso and fencing arm.

Septime

The lower right side of your stomach is defended in this move known as the parry 7.

Riposte

Hit after the parry.

Fleche

Fast move made by throwing your weaponed arm straight at the opponent and running past them to miss their hit.

Remise

A short series of attacks without withdrawing.

Ballestra

A fleche which follows a stamp or a jump.

Flunge

Leaping lunge towards the opponent.

Feint

Fake attack.

Retreat

A backward movement which is done primarily to defend.

Second intention

A fake attack to trick the opponent before you give a second, real attack.

Disengage

To avoid the opponent's blade without engaging in it.

Beat

To tap your opponent's blade with your own and this is done before starting the fight.

Stab

To push your weapon into your opponent's lame to hit a direct strike.

Those were some basic and advanced moves used in fencing. Fencing can be considered as a good exercise and can be used to stay fit.